Friday, June 21, 2013

Eastern Leaf-footed Bug

The Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) is a large coreid with foliaceous hind tibiae. Colored chestnut brown, it has transverse white markings across the hemelytra. The straight white or pale yellow elytral crossbar on the corium distinguishes L. phyllopus from other species, in which the bar may be zigzagging or broken into dots. L. phyllopus uses its sucking mouthparts to puncture plants and fruit, injecting a toxin which causes discoloration and fruit dropping. It can severely damage a variety of crops. Resistant to ingested pesticides, these bugs must be removed by hand or with traps. However, the nymphs are vulnerable. And like a stink bug, L. phyllopus will emit a foul odor when handled.

I found this specimen on Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). You can see its long proboscis folded up, with a drop of liquid on the end.


References:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/437
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/leaffooted_bug.htm
http://biology.duke.edu/dukeinsects/Leptoglossus_phyllopus.php
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/318/#b
https://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg65.html

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